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Wednesday, 19 September 2018

Chilling new CCTV reveals the Westminster terrorist grinning as he checks into hotel days before attack - and carrying out a 'dry run' of the carnage that left five people dead

Footage of Westminster Bridge attacker Kahlid Masood calmly driving his rental car around Westminster days before the attack has been shown in court.

Khalid Masood's final days of preparation before the Westminster Bridge attack were detailed at the inquests into his victims' deaths by Detective Chief Inspector Dan Brown.

CCTV footage shows Masood casually driving the Hyundai car on two recce trips across Westminster Bridge just a few days before he killed five innocent people in an expertly-planned attack.

On March 18 Masood drove to Cobham services and checks in at the Welcome Break Hotel

The Old Bailey today heard how Masood had prepared for his act of terror in the days leading up to the attack on March 22 last year. Masood told his children he was 'going to die fighting for God' in the weeks leading up to the atrocity.

The inquest into his victims' deaths also heard that during video calls to his younger children, who were living in east London while he stayed in Birmingham, he told them about dreams he had been having.

Anti-terror detective DCI Dan Brown told the Old Bailey: 'He told them that he was going to die fighting for God.'

Masood started preparations for the attack on March 2 2017, when the 52-year-old went online to buy the Hyundai Tuscon SUV that he used to kill five and injure dozens more. In the space of five days he then buys two knives, which he then used to stab police officer, Keith Palmer.He also picks up the rental car, before driving to a hotel in Brighton, before driving to London the next day.

On March 18 he then set out on his drive to central London, where at 12.44pm he cross Westminster Bridge and drives along Victoria Street before making a U-turn and driving back over the bridge, imn what investigators believe to be a reconnaissance trip.

He then drove to Cobham services and checks in at another hotel, the Welcome Break Hotel, also known as the Days Inn.

During the next three days he watches a series of Isis videos as well as carrying out internet searches involving the UK government and car bombs.

Then on the morning of March 22, at 10.30am, he once again drives across Westminster Bridge for reconnaissance. Later on that morning at 11.18am he is caught on CCTV on the A3 on Clapham Road driving south.

Masood was also pictured in the days leading up to the attack picking up his rental car a Hyundai in Birmingham

Masood drove to Cobham services and checks in at the Welcome Break Hotel

At 1.52pm he is seen driving back north again before parking at St Thomas’ hospital, where he remains until 2.31pm.

The inquest heard that at 2.26pm and 2.29pm he sends a "jihad document" to several people in his phone contacts, some of whom he did not know very well.

It featured quotes apparently trying to justify the attack and a picture of him while on pilgrimage in Mecca.

CCTV footage of Masood at Tesco on 9 March 2017, where he went on to purchase the weapons he would use in the attack

Receipts from a trip to Tesco in Birmingham show Masood buying essentials such as bodywash, whilst he also purchased two carving knives

Masood was also pictured shopping for food in a Tesco branch in Brighton, just days before the attack

At 2.38pm, the SUV is seen parked in a bus lane before the attack.

In the days before he ploughed into pedestrians, he also searched for Birmingham Calor Gas Centre.

Mr Brown accepted it was 'at least possible' that he had planned to use gas as a weapon.

The inquest heard Masood drove from Birmingham to Wales to visit his mother, Janet Ajao, and stepfather on March 16 after picking up the vehicle he used to carry out the attack.

Mr Brown said investigators 'believe this to be what we now realise was a goodbye visit'.The detective added: 'As he was leaving the house on March 17 he turned over his shoulder and said, 'they will say I'm a terrorist. I'm not.''

Khalid Masood, 52, was shot dead by police after he drove a rental car along the pavement of Westminster Bridge before fatally stabbing PC Keith Palmer.

The inquests into his victims' deaths today heard of his long history of criminality and his belief that he had been saved by Islamic miracles.

An inquest is now hearing details of the attack in order to rule on the cause of the deaths

The coroner was told Masood first began reading the Koran while in custody after he was jailed for two years for slashing a man's face with a knife at a pub in Northiam, Sussex in 2000.

After his release from prison, he attacked another man with a knife for suggesting he was working for the police.

He ran the knife through his victim's nose, penetrating the roof of his mouth and through his tongue, the Old Bailey heard. Two inches of the blade broke off into the victim's jaw.

Masood claimed self-defence for the second attack and was acquitted of all charges except possession of the weapon at a trial. He was sentenced to six months but released after trial for time served on remand.

The jihadist would later remark that this was one of two miracles Allah had blessed him with.

Masood was shot outside Parliament after an 82-second rampage in which he killed four pedestrians by driving onto the pavement on Westminster Bridge and stabbing a policeman

There was a record of 'no religion' when he started his first spell in prison, but while at HMP Lewes on remand for attempted murder he was recorded as Muslim, the court heard.

The two offences for which he was jailed came after an escalating pattern of criminality, starting with violence the 1980s and 1990s.

The Old Bailey heard Masood's mother Janet Ajao told police he would go out to pubs and clubs looking for a fight as an older teenager.

'She also described him as an angry person,' said counter-terror officer Detective Chief Inspector Dan Brown. 'She was worried he would kill someone through fighting.'

In the early 1990s he began lodging at an address in Tunbridge Wells before he had an affair with his landlady, Jane Harvey.

Masood's criminal past

1964 - Born in Kent.

1978 - First came to attention of police, aged 14, for shoplifting and given a caution.